Pitching Machine Having Angle and Speed Adjustment Function

ABSTRACT

A pitching machine includes a stand unit, a direction adjusting device swivelably mounted on the stand unit, a base unit pivotally mounted on the direction adjusting device, two pitch adjusting devices mounted on the base unit, and an angle adjusting device pivotally mounted between the base unit and the direction adjusting device. The base unit includes a base frame, two side brackets, two screwed sockets, two rotation wheels, two drive motors, a guide track, and a push member. Thus, the inclined angle of each of the rotation wheels can be adjusted individually by each of the pitch adjusting devices so that the rotation wheels can be adapted to have different inclined angles. In addition, the angle adjusting device can move the base frame relative to the support arm to change the inclined angle of the base frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a ball practicing machine and, more particularly, to a pitching machine for a baseball, volleyball, soccer ball, football and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional pitching machine comprises a base unit, a ball placement unit mounted on the base unit, and a thrust unit mounted on the base unit and connected with the ball placement unit. The base unit includes a gantry having two bearings. The thrust unit includes a ball thruster. Thus, when a ball is placed on the ball placement unit and is located between the ball thruster of the thrust unit and the two bearings of the base unit, the ball is pushed by the ball thruster of the thrust unit to gradually pass between the two bearings of the base unit so that the ball is pressed by and injected outwardly from the two bearings of the base unit. However, the inclined angle of each of the two bearings cannot be adjusted individually so that the two bearings have the same inclined angle. Thus, the two bearings cannot change the pitching motion and revolving angle of the ball and cannot adjust the travel path and speed of the ball.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pitching machine, comprising a stand unit, a direction adjusting device swivelably mounted on the stand unit, a base unit pivotally mounted on the direction adjusting device, two pitch adjusting devices mounted on the base unit to adjust a pitching motion of the base unit, and an angle adjusting device pivotally mounted between the base unit and the direction adjusting device to adjust an angle of the base unit.

The direction adjusting device includes a support arm swivelably mounted on the stand unit. The base unit includes a base frame pivotally mounted on the support arm of the direction adjusting device, two side brackets pivotally mounted on two opposite sides of the base frame, two screwed sockets each pivotally mounted on a respective one of the two side brackets, two rotation wheels each rotatably mounted on a respective one of the two side brackets, two drive motors each mounted on a respective one of the two side brackets and each connected with a respective one of the two rotation wheels to rotate the respective rotation wheel, an elongate guide track mounted on the base frame and located between the two rotation wheels, and a push member mounted on one end of the guide track.

Each of the two pitch adjusting devices includes a mounting bracket secured on the base frame of the base unit, a threaded rod rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and screwed into and extended through a respective one of the two screwed sockets of the base unit, and a rocking handle pivotally mounted on the mounting bracket and connected with the threaded rod to rotate the threaded rod relative to the mounting bracket.

The angle adjusting device includes a connecting lever movably mounted on the support arm of the direction adjusting device and pivotally connected with the base frame of the base unit to drive and move the base frame of the base unit relative to the support arm of the direction adjusting device, and an adjusting handle mounted on the support arm of the direction adjusting device and releasably locked onto the connecting lever to releasably lock the connecting lever onto the support arm of the direction adjusting device.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a pitching machine having an angle and speed adjustment function.

According to the primary advantage of the present invention, the inclined angle of each of the two rotation wheels can be adjusted individually by each of the two pitch adjusting devices so that the two rotation wheels can be adapted to have different inclined angles so as to change the pitching motion and revolving angle of the ball and to adjust the travel path and speed of the ball.

According to another advantage of the present invention, the angle adjusting device can drive and move the base frame of the base unit relative to the support arm of the direction adjusting device so as to change the inclined angle of the base frame and the guide track and to adjust the angle and curvature of the ball.

According to a further advantage of the present invention, the support arm of the direction adjusting device can be rotated relative to the stand unit to drive and swivel the base frame of the base unit relative to the stand unit so as to change the direction of the base frame and the guide track and to adjust the angle of the ball.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a pitching machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the pitching machine as shown in

FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the pitching machine as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the pitching machine taken along line 4-4 as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic operational view of the pitching machine as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view of the pitching machine as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view of the pitching machine as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a schematic operational view of the pitching machine as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a pitching machine in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic operational view of the pitching machine as shown in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a pitching machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a stand unit 5, a direction adjusting device 4 swivelably mounted on the stand unit 5, a base unit 1 pivotally mounted on the direction adjusting device 4, two pitch adjusting devices 2 mounted on the base unit 1 to adjust a pitching motion of the base unit 1, and an angle adjusting device 3 pivotally mounted between the base unit 1 and the direction adjusting device 4 to adjust an angle motion of the base unit 1.

The direction adjusting device 4 includes a support arm 41 swivelably mounted on the stand unit 5, and a control handle 43 mounted on the stand unit 5 and releasably locked onto the support arm 41 to releasably lock the support arm 41 onto the stand unit 5. The support arm 41 of the direction adjusting device 4 has a substantially V-shaped profile and has a surface provided with a curved guide slot 42 to allow passage of the control handle 43. The guide slot 42 of the support arm 41 is slidable on the control handle 43 when the support arm 41 is rotated relative to the stand unit 5.

The stand unit 5 includes a support seat 51 on which the support arm 41 of the direction adjusting device 4 is swivelably mounted, a plurality of telescopically arranged support legs 52 each mounted on a bottom of the support seat 51, and a plurality of fastening knobs 53 each releasably locked onto a respective one of the support legs 52 to adjust a height of the respective support leg 52.

The base unit 1 includes a base frame 11 pivotally mounted on the support arm 41 of the direction adjusting device 4, two side brackets 12 pivotally mounted on two opposite sides of the base frame 11, two screwed sockets 13 each pivotally mounted on a respective one of the two side brackets 12, two rotation wheels 16 each rotatably mounted on a respective one of the two side brackets 12, two drive motors 15 each mounted on a respective one of the two side brackets 12 and each connected with a respective one of the two rotation wheels 16 to rotate the respective rotation wheel 16, an elongate guide track 17 mounted on the base frame 11 and located between the two rotation wheels 16, and a push member 18 mounted on one end of the guide track 17.

The base frame 11 of the base unit 1 has a bottom pivotally mounted on the support arm 41 of the direction adjusting device 4 by a pivot shaft 19. Each of the two side brackets 12 of the base unit 1 has a substantially inverted L-shaped profile and has a vertical section for mounting the respective screwed socket 13 and a horizontal section for mounting the respective rotation wheel 16. Each of the two side brackets 12 of the base unit 1 has a surface provided with a curved guide groove 14. Each of the two side brackets 12 of the base unit 1 is pivotally mounted on the base frame 11 by one of two limit members 122. The guide groove 14 of each of the two side brackets 12 is slidable on a respective one of the two limit members 122 so that each of the two side brackets 12 of the base unit 1 is pivotable relative to the base frame 11. The guide groove 14 of each of the two side brackets 12 is located between the respective screwed socket 13 and the respective rotation wheel 16.

Each of the two pitch adjusting devices 2 includes a mounting bracket 21 secured on the base frame 11 of the base unit 1, a threaded rod 23 rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket 21 and screwed into and extended through a respective one of the two screwed sockets 13 of the base unit 1, and a rocking handle 22 pivotally mounted on the mounting bracket 21 and connected with the threaded rod 23 to rotate the threaded rod 23 relative to the mounting bracket 21.

Thus, when the threaded rod 23 of each of the two pitch adjusting devices 2 is rotated by the rocking handle 22, the respective screwed socket 13 of the base unit 1 is moved axially on the threaded rod 23, and the respective side bracket 12 of the base unit 1 is pivoted about the respective limit member 122 of the base unit 1 so that the respective rotation wheel 16 of the base unit 1 is moved by the respective side bracket 12 and is pivoted relative to the base frame 11 to adjust the inclined angle of the respective rotation wheel 16. At this time, the guide groove 14 of each of the two side brackets 12 is slidable on the respective limit member 122 when each of the two side brackets 12 of the base unit 1 is pivoted relative to the base frame 11 of the base unit 1.

The angle adjusting device 3 includes a connecting lever 31 movably mounted on the support arm 41 of the direction adjusting device 4 and pivotally connected with the base frame 11 of the base unit 1 to drive and move the base frame 11 of the base unit 1 relative to the support arm 41 of the direction adjusting device 4, and an adjusting handle 33 mounted on the support arm 41 of the direction adjusting device 4 and releasably locked onto the connecting lever 31 to releasably lock the connecting lever 31 onto the support arm 41 of the direction adjusting device 4. The connecting lever 31 of the angle adjusting device 3 has an upper end pivotally connected with the base frame 11 of the base unit 1 and a lower end provided with an elongate limit slot 32 to allow passage of the adjusting handle 33. The limit slot 32 of the connecting lever 31 is slidable on the adjusting handle 33 when the connecting lever 31 is moved relative to the support arm 41 of the direction adjusting device 4.

In operation, referring to FIG. 5 with reference to FIGS. 1-4, the two rotation wheels 16 are rotated by the drive motors 15 respectively. Thus, when a ball 6 is placed on the guide track 17 and supported by the push member 18, the ball 6 is pushed and moved to pass through the two rotation wheels 16 so that the ball 6 is pressed by the two rotation wheels 16 and is injected and thrown outward from the two rotation wheels 16.

Referring to FIG. 6 with reference to FIGS. 1-4, when the threaded rod 23 of each of the two pitch adjusting devices 2 is rotated by the rocking handle 22, the respective screwed socket 13 of the base unit 1 is moved axially on the threaded rod 23, and the respective side bracket 12 of the base unit 1 is pivoted about the respective limit member 122 of the base unit 1 so that the respective rotation wheel 16 of the base unit 1 is moved by the respective side bracket 12 and is pivoted relative to the base frame 11 to adjust the inclined angle of the respective rotation wheel 16. In such a manner, the inclined angle of each of the two rotation wheels 16 can be adjusted individually by each of the two pitch adjusting devices 2 so that the two rotation wheels 16 can be adapted to have different inclined angles as shown in FIG. 6 so as to change the pitching motion and revolving angle of the ball 6 and to adjust the travel path and speed of the ball 6.

Referring to FIG. 7 with reference to FIGS. 1-4, when the adjusting handle 33 of the angle adjusting device 3 is unlocked from the connecting lever 31 to unlock the connecting lever 31, the limit slot 32 of the connecting lever 31 is slidable on the adjusting handle 33 so that the connecting lever 31 is moved relative to the support arm 41 of the direction adjusting device 4 to drive and move the base frame 11 of the base unit 1 relative to the support arm 41 of the direction adjusting device 4 so as to change the inclined angle of the base frame 11 and the guide track 17 and to adjust the angle and curvature of the ball 6.

Referring to FIG. 8 with reference to FIGS. 1-4, when the control handle 43 of the direction adjusting device 4 is unlocked from the support arm 41 to unlock the support arm 41, the guide slot 42 of the support arm 41 is slidable on the control handle 43 so that the support arm 41 is rotated relative to the stand unit 5 to drive and swivel the base frame 11 of the base unit 1 relative to the stand unit 5 so as to change the direction of the base frame 11 and the guide track 17 and to adjust the angle of the ball 6.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the pitching machine further comprises a carrier 7 for mounting the stand unit 5 so as to move the stand unit 5. The carrier 7 includes a mounting frame 72 on which the stand unit 5 is mounted, a holding handle 71 mounted on the mounting frame 72, and a plurality of rollers 73 mounted on a bottom of the mounting frame 72.

Accordingly, the inclined angle of each of the two rotation wheels 16 can be adjusted individually by each of the two pitch adjusting devices 2 so that the two rotation wheels 16 can be adapted to have different inclined angles so as to change the pitching motion and revolving angle of the ball 6 and to adjust the travel path and speed of the ball 6. In addition, the angle adjusting device 3 can drive and move the base frame 11 of the base unit 1 relative to the support arm 41 of the direction adjusting device 4 so as to change the inclined angle of the base frame 11 and the guide track 17 and to adjust the angle and curvature of the ball 6. Further, the support arm 41 of the direction adjusting device 4 can be rotated relative to the stand unit 5 to drive and swivel the base frame 11 of the base unit 1 relative to the stand unit 5 so as to change the direction of the base frame 11 and the guide track 17 and to adjust the angle of the ball 6.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention. 

1. A pitching machine, comprising: a stand unit; a direction adjusting device swivelably mounted on the stand unit; a base unit pivotally mounted on the direction adjusting device; two pitch adjusting devices mounted on the base unit to adjust a pitching motion of the base unit; and an angle adjusting device pivotally mounted between the base unit and the direction adjusting device to adjust an angle of the base unit.
 2. The pitching machine of claim 1, wherein the direction adjusting device includes a support arm swivelably mounted on the stand unit; the base unit includes: a base frame pivotally mounted on the support arm of the direction adjusting device; two side brackets pivotally mounted on two opposite sides of the base frame; two screwed sockets each pivotally mounted on a respective one of the two side brackets; two rotation wheels each rotatably mounted on a respective one of the two side brackets; two drive motors each mounted on a respective one of the two side brackets and each connected with a respective one of the two rotation wheels to rotate the respective rotation wheel; an elongate guide track mounted on the base frame and located between the two rotation wheels; and a push member mounted on one end of the guide track.
 3. The pitching machine of claim 2, wherein each of the two side brackets of the base unit has a surface provided with a curved guide groove; each of the two side brackets of the base unit is pivotally mounted on the base frame by one of two limit members; the guide groove of each of the two side brackets is slidable on a respective one of the two limit members so that each of the two side brackets of the base unit is pivotable relative to the base frame.
 4. The pitching machine of claim 2, wherein the base frame of the base unit has a bottom pivotally mounted on the support arm of the direction adjusting device by a pivot shaft.
 5. The pitching machine of claim 2, wherein each of the two pitch adjusting devices includes: a mounting bracket secured on the base frame of the base unit; a threaded rod rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and screwed into and extended through a respective one of the two screwed sockets of the base unit; and a rocking handle pivotally mounted on the mounting bracket and connected with the threaded rod to rotate the threaded rod relative to the mounting bracket.
 6. The pitching machine of claim 2, wherein the angle adjusting device includes: a connecting lever movably mounted on the support arm of the direction adjusting device and pivotally connected with the base frame of the base unit to drive and move the base frame of the base unit relative to the support arm of the direction adjusting device; and an adjusting handle mounted on the support arm of the direction adjusting device and releasably locked onto the connecting lever to releasably lock the connecting lever onto the support arm of the direction adjusting device.
 7. The pitching machine of claim 6, wherein the connecting lever of the angle adjusting device has an upper end pivotally connected with the base frame of the base unit and a lower end provided with an elongate limit slot to allow passage of the adjusting handle.
 8. The pitching machine of claim 7, wherein the limit slot of the connecting lever is slidable on the adjusting handle when the connecting lever is moved relative to the support arm of the direction adjusting device.
 9. The pitching machine of claim 2, wherein the direction adjusting device further includes: a control handle mounted on the stand unit and releasably locked onto the support arm to releasably lock the support arm onto the stand unit.
 10. The pitching machine of claim 9, wherein the support arm of the direction adjusting device has a surface provided with a curved guide slot to allow passage of the control handle.
 11. The pitching machine of claim 10, wherein the guide slot of the support arm is slidable on the control handle when the support arm is rotated relative to the stand unit.
 12. The pitching machine of claim 2, wherein the stand unit includes: a support seat on which the support arm of the direction adjusting device is swivelably mounted; a plurality of telescopically arranged support legs each mounted on a bottom of the support seat; and a plurality of fastening knobs each releasably locked onto a respective one of the support legs to adjust a height of the respective support leg.
 13. The pitching machine of claim 2, wherein the support arm of the direction adjusting device has a substantially V-shaped profile.
 14. The pitching machine of claim 2, wherein each of the two side brackets of the base unit has a substantially inverted L-shaped profile.
 15. The pitching machine of claim 14, wherein each of the two side brackets of the base unit has a vertical section for mounting the respective screwed socket and a horizontal section for mounting the respective rotation wheel.
 16. The pitching machine of claim 3, wherein the guide groove of each of the two side brackets is located between the respective screwed socket and the respective rotation wheel. 